Jayne Economos from Buckley has called for urgent changes at Wrexham Maelor Hospital after what she described as a series of failures in the care of her elderly father. She claims staff were overstretched, the hospital relied on paper notes, and poor infrastructure meant vulnerable older patients were not getting adequate treatment.
Missed broken rib and sedation issues
Ms Economos said her father was admitted after a neighbour found him with low blood pressure. Initially he was expected to go home, but then a series of events worsened his condition. He had dementia and tried to leave, after which he was given antipsychotics and sedatives, which Ms Economos said made his dementia worse.
She also said her father was placed opposite a male patient with another type of dementia who yelled constantly, causing her father distress. The staff were unable to move that patient due to lack of space, and when they finally did, they moved her father with him.
During his stay, the hospital missed that his notes indicated he had broken ribs, because the paper-based system failed to transfer information between wards. Ms Economos believes the undiagnosed rib fracture contributed to his pain and delirium.
Staff praised but infrastructure blamed
Ms Economos praised the hospital staff for working under very difficult circumstances, but said outdated systems and low staffing levels made it impossible to deliver proper care. She contrasted the paper notes at Wrexham Maelor with digital patient records being implemented at the Countess of Chester Hospital, calling the situation at Wrexham “chaotic”.
Her father was eventually discharged to the Bryn Hesket Unit in Colwyn Bay, where she says he is much better looked after. He has lost much of his independence, which Ms Economos believes was accelerated by his time at Wrexham Maelor.
Dr Clara Day, executive medical director of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, apologised for the distress caused and said the board is reviewing its contact with the patient and communication with the family. She added that the health board would contact Ms Economos to discuss her concerns, insisting that learning from patient and family experiences is essential.
